Tag Archives: Prescription medication

The Washington State Patrol’s recruiters are “concerned”
that an undisclosed number of applicants have disclosed they’ve
borrowed from prescription drugs from friends and family for their
own medical problems, the patrol said in a news release
Thursday.

“Concerned,” perhaps, but it should not come as a surprise.
Starting in the 1990s, prescription opiate drugs, in particular,
began to be prescribed at much higher rates. The many
consequences of that have been documented by news media around the
country, including
in our very own Kitsap Sun. And, as there are just way more of
these potent pain-killing drugs out there, I don’t think it comes
as a shock to anyone that they’re also being “borrowed” more often,
too.

The patrol said an applicant has been disqualified for borrowing
prescription drugs. Here’s the full news release:

(Olympia)—Recruiters at the Washington State Patrol are
concerned about the number of State Patrol applicants who report
using prescription drugs obtained from friends or relatives for
otherwise legitimate medical issues.

It’s dangerous to use prescription medicine that’s been
prescribed to someone else. Those with aspirations of working in
law enforcement need to know it’s also a felony crime.

“These candidates may have taken the drugs for legitimate
medical conditions, and might well have been prescribed the same
drugs had they gone to a doctor,” said Capt. Jeff DeVere, commander
of the Patrol’s Human Resource Division. “Getting them from a
friend is an illegal drug transaction, and will likely disqualify
you from employment as a State Trooper.”

A coming wave of retirements among troopers means that the
Patrol is hiring at an unprecedented rate. Several months ago, the
Patrol struggled to find candidates who were in sufficiently good
physical condition. After a wave of public education, candidates
are showing up ready to do sit-ups, push-ups and to run.

Now, prescription drug use is the latest obstacle to hiring.

“If you roll your ankle playing pickup basketball, or get a
migraine during finals week, go to your doctor not your roommate,”
DeVere said.

In doing background investigations, the State Patrol looks at
the entire person and not just isolated incidents. However, any
kind of illegal drug use places a burden on the candidate that is
hard to overcome.

The Patrol is not concerned about drugs, of whatever type, that
might have been legally prescribed by a doctor. A medical exam that
includes disclosure of current medical conditions is a separate
part of the hiring process. That exam will determine if the
applicant is in good enough health to perform the essential job
functions of a trooper.